Context Of COVID-19 Research Articles

Online grocery shopping intentions in the post COVID-19 context: a case of millennial generations in Bangladesh

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore factors and their impacts influencing online grocery shopping intentions among customers in the post COVID-19 situation. Moreover, the study aims at evaluating the mediating roles of shopping habits during COVID-19 between perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and post COVID-19 online grocery shopping intentions.Design/methodology/approachBased on a review of the literature and collection of 401 useable valid responses, the study was conducted through structured questionnaires applying personal interview technique. The subsequent analysis was conducted through partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) using Smart PLS 3.3.3.FindingsThe study findings revealed that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and shopping habits during COVID-19 have a significant influence on post COVID-19 online grocery shopping intentions. Also, the study has uncovered that perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use significantly influence shopping habits during COVID-19 among customers. Furthermore, the current study has revealed that hopping habit during COVID-19 significantly mediates the relationship between perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and post COVID-19 online grocery shopping intentions.Practical implicationsThe study findings have provided practical suggestions of developing and improving technological platforms to attract new customers for online grocery shopping. Further, the study suggests that online grocery retailers should apply adjusted pricing strategies using coupons and discount offers.Originality/valueThis paper investigates factors and its impacts on online grocery shopping intentions in post COVID-19 context. Therefore, the study uncovers the factors that add value to understanding customers' post COVID-19 online grocery shopping intentions by integrating perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and shopping habits during COVID-19.

Appraising Psychological Adaptation During Covid-19 in South Africa: A Descriptive Study Illustrating the Need for Multi-Model Monitoring of Mental Health

The devastation of the Covid-19 pandemic on society raised the question of how best to gauge society’s psychological adaptation to continually evolving global disruptor events, such as Covid-19. This paper aims to illustrate the use of different approaches to monitor society’s psychological response to Covid-19, in order to argue for a more comprehensive, multi-model, approach. The results from different approaches are presented in two studies employing measures of mental disorders and mental distress, respectively, using South African samples for demonstration. The first study presents findings from repeat administration of measures of common mental disorders (major depressive and generalized anxiety disorders) across three consecutive years, while the second study presents findings from mood response profiles (measured with the Brunel Mood Scale) collected across five time points during the Covid-19 pandemic. Both studies showed that the Covid-19 pandemic was temporally associated with adverse mental health outcomes across the mental health continuum, and that mental health profiles were associated with both time since onset of Covid-19 and subsequent wave occurrence. Elevated prevalence of common mental disorders, as well as fluctuating patterns of mood response profiles, are discussed against the context of Covid-19. The paper concludes that a multi-modal approach, for instance measuring specific mental disorders as well as more general mental distress, is crucial to comprehensively understand society’s psychological adaptation to major disruptor events, and guide health sector responses. The paper serves as a reminder to continue to observe mental health more inclusively to appropriately respond to the psychological needs of communities.

Using integrated knowledge translation to address a rurally based time-critical knowledge gap during the COVID-19 pandemic: a multimethods study in Victoria, Australia

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to explore the intention of health professionals to use evidence generated through an integrated knowledge translation (iKT) activity undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic to...

Impactos da infodemia sobre a COVID-19 para profissionais de saúde no Brasil

Abstract This article aims to analyze the effects of the COVID-19 infodemic from the perspective of Brazilian health workers regarding the patients, measure the impacts of fake news on health professionals, and verify the perception of health multidisciplinary teams regarding the authorities’ stance. This cross-sectional study is nested in the research “Health Professionals’ Working Conditions in the Brazilian Context of COVID-19”. The nationwide non-probability sampling included 15,132 professionals who worked in the COVID-19 frontline in health institutions of 2,200 Brazilian municipalities. Approximately 91% of respondents believed that fake news is an obstacle in fighting the SARS-CoV-2 virus; 76.1% declared they had seen patients who expressed faith in fake news about COVID-19; 29.3% agreed that the health authorities’ stance about COVID-19 was consistent and enlightening, and 62.6% disagreed about this. The respondents believe that the COVID-19 infodemic confused patients, impaired adherence to PHC measures, and stirred people’s negative behavior vis-à-vis the pandemic. The lack of clarity of the authorities’ stance influenced the COVID-19 infodemic process.

Impacts of the infodemic on COVID-19 for Brazilian health professionals.

This article aims to analyze the effects of the COVID-19 infodemic from the perspective of Brazilian health workers regarding the patients, measure the impacts of fake news on health professionals, and verify the perception of health multidisciplinary teams regarding the authorities' stance. This cross-sectional study is nested in the research "Health Professionals' Working Conditions in the Brazilian Context of COVID-19". The nationwide non-probability sampling included 15,132 professionals who worked in the COVID-19 frontline in health institutions of 2,200 Brazilian municipalities. Approximately 91% of respondents believed that fake news is an obstacle in fighting the SARS-CoV-2 virus; 76.1% declared they had seen patients who expressed faith in fake news about COVID-19; 29.3% agreed that the health authorities' stance about COVID-19 was consistent and enlightening, and 62.6% disagreed about this. The respondents believe that the COVID-19 infodemic confused patients, impaired adherence to PHC measures, and stirred people's negative behavior vis-à-vis the pandemic. The lack of clarity of the authorities' stance influenced the COVID-19 infodemic process.

Application of the Chatbot in University Education: A Systematic Review on the Acceptance and Impact on Learning

During the pandemic, many students faced significant challenges due to the abrupt transition to online learning and the lack of direct interaction with each other and with teachers. Therefore, it is relevant to study the contribution of conversational agents or chatbots in university education. This article aims to identify and describe the acceptance of the use of the chatbot and its impact on learning in university education, in the context of COVID-19. A systematic review was employed using a mixed-method approach with of the aim to explore the reasons behind the use of chatbots in university education to solve problems related to the lack of student interaction, motivation, as well as the lack of teaching tools and strategies. It was also identified that the criteria used to evaluate the acceptance of the use of a chatbot are design, interface and responsiveness. Finally, chatbots generated a positive impact on learning, evidenced not only in the improvement of academic performance but also in the interaction between students and teachers. The study concluded that the acceptance of the use of a chatbot and the positive impact generated on learning in university education during the context of COVID-19, will, in the current post-pandemic scenario, lead to the implementation of artificial intelligence tools such as the chatbot to traditional educational environments, transforming the way in which teaching and learning are taught, providing new opportunities for educational growth, under a more flexible and personalised learning.

Impact of the Independent Directors' Social Network on Earnings Management Before and During the COVID-19 Period

This study examines the impact of the independent directors' social network on earnings management before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic increased uncertainty and pressure in the business environment, which led to intensified earnings management of listed companies worldwide. The research constructs centrality indexes of the independent director social network through the social network analysis method and conducts an empirical study on 1,167 A-share listed companies in China from 2009 to 2020. The relationship between independent directors' network centrality and accrual-based earnings management of companies is examined. Empirical results reveal that independent directors' network centrality is associated with higher accrued earnings management and undesirable corporate practices such as earnings management can be disseminated through directors' social networks. This research innovatively incorporates the research findings into the COVID-19 context, further indicating that independent directors' social network is associated with higher accrued earnings management during the COVID-19 period than before. This research will provide insights for regulators, specifically regulators in China, regarding the independent directors' composition and effectiveness.

The Right to Cyberbully? A Gendered Analysis During COVID-19 in Malaysia

This paper explores the rhetoric of cyberbullying with a focus on Malaysian female influencers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research objectives entailed identifying various critical rhetoric and attacks against female influencers on digital platforms, understanding diverse levels of cyberbullying experienced by influencers from different backgrounds, and analysing reasons behind online aggressive behaviours. The study's theoretical framework contributes to intersectionality theory by examining how the COVID-19 context shapes nuances in Female Cyber Victimisation. Methodologically, the research employs critical discourse analysis to study language in online comments and responses reflecting cyberbullying against Malaysian female influencers. The analysis covers social media platforms (YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok) and forums (Hardware Zone, Lowyat.net, Cari.com.my), focusing on cyberbullying content over two years. Three prominent Malaysian female influencers targeted by cyberbullying namely Cathryn Li, Veveonah and Ain Husniza were selected for their distinct demographics and contexts, showcasing varying cyberbullying rhetoric. Findings reveal male internet commenters' presumptions about female influencers are shaped by religion and modesty perceptions. Influencers challenging gender norms face escalated negativity. Cathryn Li, perceived as less modest and non-Muslim, faced extensive derogatory comments affecting her mental health. Ain Husniza faced mockery due to her Malay Muslim background, while Veveonah was targeted for political motives. Rooted in conservative gender roles, societal expectations contribute to targeting female influencers, resulting in ridicule and harassment. These cases underscore the intricate interplay of gender, cultural norms, and online harassment, highlighting the necessity for comprehensive interventions to combat cyberbullying and safeguard the well-being of female influencers. Keywords: COVID-19, cyberbullying, gender, influencers, female cyber victimization.

REIMAGINING TRAVEL INTENTIONS TO CHINA IN THE POST COVID-19 ERA: EXPLORING THE ROLE OF PERCEIVED SAFETY, ELECTRONIC WORD OF MOUTH AND DESTINATION IMAGE

The past decade has seen the rapid proliferation of theory, literature, and research, in the field of tourism disaster and crisis management, however empirical studies linking Covid-19 to destination image are limited and have not been well understood. Nations are certainly gearing up to pursue various tourism recovery strategies in the hopes of tourism activity returning to normal. As informed by the S-O-R theory this study tests an empirical model that investigates the influence of Iranian’s perceived safety and electronic word of-mouth (eWOM) on destination image and travel intention to China in the post Covid-19 era. Data were obtained from a sample of 305 respondents in Shiraz, Iran. The findings revealed that perceived safety and eWOM were able to predict destination image which subsequently had a positive effect on intention to travel. Additionally, destination image significantly mediates the relationship between perceived safety, eWOM and behavioural intention. The study certainly adds to the dearth of literature pertaining to destination image and tourist behavioural intention in a post Covid-19 context from the lens of the SOR paradigm. The study confirms the validity and salience of the SOR framework as a theoretical cornerstone in uncovering tourist behaviours and responses; whose use within tourism related research is gaining traction.

COVID-19 vaccination: lower intention and coverage among entrepreneurs compared to employees

PurposeLockdowns and the forced closure of certain industries during the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted workers, particularly entrepreneurs, who were financially and emotionally involved in their businesses. Two studies have shown that entrepreneurs have a lower willingness to get vaccinated against COVID-19 than employees. In this study, the authors try to replicate the vaccination gap between the two groups. Second, the authors study whether the difference persists when controlling for demographics, vaccination attitudes and the COVID-19 context, including the financial impact of the pandemic, its effect on the wellbeing of workers, and government attitudes. Third, the authors study whether there are differences in how the context of the pandemic relates to vaccination willingness for entrepreneurs and employees.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conduct regression analyses using three large datasets. The authors study vaccination status (February 2022) in a 27-country Eurobarometer sample, vaccination intention (December 2020) in a Dutch sample from the LISS panel and vaccination status (July 2021) in a sample from the Understanding America Study (UAS).FindingsAll datasets confirm that entrepreneurs have lower vaccination intention and coverage than employees. Even when controlling for the variables described in the LISS and UAS datasets, this negative difference remains. The study results also indicate that demographics, especially vaccination attitudes, are much more important than contextual influences in the decision to get vaccinated against COVID-19.Originality/valueThe authors are the first to dive further into the vaccination differences between entrepreneurs and employees. They advise further research into the drivers of this gap, specifically relating to the role of personality and social normative influences.

A nudge for positive behaviours: digital nudging in higher education

In 2018, embarking upon my PhD in Education, I conducted a literature review. My preliminary findings came to a determination of three key points, as presented below. However, during the Covid-19 context, 2020-22, there was a rapid shift in the sector to teaching online and a consequent shift in the literature. I believe it noteworthy to present this piece to the academic community to highlight what I perceive as a move in the literature findings. Now, in 2023, there is clear evidence that Higher Education is moving towards digital nudging (Brown et al., 2023; Plak et al., 2023). It is important for Learning Development professionals to consider the ethical implications of this change and how nudging might be used in virtual learning environments, especially given the rapid rise of Artificial Intelligence, which is likely to be deployed alongside learning analytics to shape students' learning behaviours.

Nomophobia in university students during COVID-19 outbreak: a cross-sectional study.

Currently, access to the Internet through smartphones has led to their functions going beyond purely communicative ones, allowing the management of massive, instantaneous, and easily accessible information. This research analyzed the differences in smartphone use and the prevalence of nomophobia, mainly according to gender and university degree of Health Sciences students at the University of Zaragoza during the COVID-19 confinement in Spain. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on a sample of 318 first and second-grade students, who completed an online questionnaire sent to their institutional email, which included sociodemographic questions, other questions about smartphone use, and the Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q) scale. Compared to men (n = 58), women (n = 260) were more likely to use their smartphones more intensively daily, as were occupational therapy students compared to the other degree programs studied. The prevalence of nomophobia was moderate, being around the risk of suffering from it. No significant differences in scores for nomophobia among students were found according to gender, university degree, or population nucleus for the nomophobia scores of the students. The present study extends the existing literature on nomophobia by providing results of interest in terms of gender and the exceptional healthcare context of COVID-19. The results suggest that despite intense daily smartphone use young people did not reach severe nomophobia figures. This fact underlines the need for appropriate and healthy technology education. Understanding the characteristics of the populations that use the smartphone the most may help to analyze nomophobia rates and the massive use of the device.

Technology integration during teaching and learning: the COVID-19 context

Background: The aim of this paper was to explore how the Fourth Industrial Revolution shapes teaching and learning during COVID-19 in some of the schools located in the Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces, South Africa. This paper employed qualitative interpretative multiple case study design. Purposive sampling was used to sample our participants. Methods: We selected four teachers who separately taught at the early childhood development stage, intermediate phase, senior phase, and further education and training phases. Data was collected telephonically through semi-structured interviews with teachers from Limpopo, Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa. Data was collected from their experiences of COVID-19 from 2019 to 2021. Collected data was analysed using a typology approach whereby themes that derived from the literature reviewed and research questions were used. Results: We inferred from the results of the paper that teachers had challenges with teaching and availability of learning resources, such as limited access to internet and socio-economic backgrounds, which hindered the integration of the Fourth Industrial Revolution in the teaching and learning process. There were also challenges related to teachers’ background on the usage of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the lack of school management teams support. The paper revealed that the integration of the Fourth Industrial Revolution in teaching and learning was affected negatively by the existence of the above-mentioned challenges, which needs to be addressed. Conclusions: Therefore, we recommended that the government and stakeholders within the education sector provide resources such as smart-boards, computers, and network access in schools lacking such facilities, as well as providing professional development interventions and training teachers to have an in-depth understanding of the Fourth Industrial Revolution within the teaching and learning context.

IJobs – An online implementation of the JOBS II program for fostering reemployment: A feasibility and acceptability study

The current study aimed to test the feasibility and acceptability of iJobs, an online adaptation of the JOBS II program (Curran et al., 1999). iJobs is a two-week internet intervention for the unemployed, consisting of five modules. This study is an open-label trial with an uncontrolled, within-group, pre-posttest, and follow-up design. Out of the 56 participants allocated to the intervention, 36 completed (Mage = 25 years; 57.1 % females) the post-test (36 % dropout), and 34 the three months follow-up. The protocol-compliant participants followed the modules with great engagement (mean quality of assignments completion above 4 points out of 5 for each module). The online platform's usability was high (84.86 points out of 100). Participants reported high overall satisfaction with the program. Our results suggest that iJobs is a feasible intervention and was accepted by its beneficiaries. Relative to baseline, inoculation against setbacks (d = 0.64), job search self-efficacy (d = 0.50), and self-esteem (d = 0.28) increased significantly, while future career anxiety in the COVID-19 context decreased significantly (d = 0.34). No significant differences were found for depression, anxiety, and job-search behaviors. At three months follow-up, 55.9 % of the participants found employment, 5.9 % were in a job selection process, and 38.2 % were still unemployed. Job satisfaction was high among the employed.

The impact of E-learning and ICT on English language learning: COVID-19 context

Background: E-learning and ICT have developed an innovative way of teaching English. To make sure the learning of this foreign language is effective, educational establishments and universities adjusted their infrastructure and technological devices.
 Aim: This article aims to present the results from a comprehensive examination of the literature regarding the Effects of E-learning and ICT on English language learning in COVID-19.
 Methods: The investigators made use of the PRISMA MODEL to determine the 65 articles to be included in the sample selection. A systematic search was performed on databases to select articles on E-learning and ICT related to English language learning. The databases employed for this study were Scielo, Redalyc, Dialnet, cademic Publishing (ACPI), Springer, Scopus, ECLAC, and MINTIC.
 Results: These technologies experienced an increase in usage during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 Conclusion: Incorporating e-learning and ICT has made language learning more dynamic. In addition, it demanded training of teachers to manage the tools and resources that they offer.

Advanced care planning in the early phase of COVID-19: a rapid review of the practice and policy lessons learned.

The importance of advance care planning (ACP) has been highlighted by the advent of life-threatening COVID-19. Anecdotal evidence suggests changes in implementation of policies and procedures is needed to support uptake of ACPs. We investigated the barriers and enablers of ACP in the COVID-19 context and identify recommendations to facilitate ACP, to inform future policy and practice. We adopted the WHO recommendation of using rapid reviews for the production of actionable evidence for this study. We searched PUBMED from January 2020 to April 2021. All study designs including commentaries were included that focused on ACPs during COVID-19. Preprints/unpublished papers and Non-English language articles were excluded. Titles and abstracts were screened, full-texts were reviewed, and discrepancies resolved by discussion until consensus. From amongst 343 papers screened, 123 underwent full-text review. In total, 74 papers were included, comprising commentaries (39) and primary research studies covering cohorts, reviews, case studies, and cross-sectional designs (35). The various study types and settings such as hospitals, outpatient services, aged care and community indicated widespread interest in accelerating ACP documentation to facilitate management decisions and care which is unwanted/not aligned with goals. Enablers of ACP included targeted public awareness, availability of telehealth, easy access to online tools and adopting person-centered approach, respectful of patient autonomy and values. The emerging barriers were uncertainty regarding clinical outcomes, cultural and communication difficulties, barriers associated with legal and ethical considerations, infection control restrictions, lack of time, and limited resources and support systems. The pandemic has provided opportunities for rapid implementation of ACP in creative ways to circumvent social distancing restrictions and high demand for health services. This review suggests the pandemic has provided some impetus to drive adaptable ACP conversations at individual, local, and international levels, affording an opportunity for longer term improvements in ACP practice and patient care. The enablers of ACP and the accelerated adoption evident here will hopefully continue to be part of everyday practice, with or without the pandemic.

The Road to Becoming a “Live-Streaming Star”: Ecological Influences on Improvisation Efforts Among Teaching-from-Home Chinese English as a Foreign Language Teachers in the COVID-19 Outbreak

When the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak threw the world into a public panic, teachers worldwide were challenged to adapt to a new pedagogical ecology as online delivery of classes was widely made a required necessity. This study explores how language teachers responded to the sudden disruption via improvisational endeavours during the first online semester and how their endeavours were influenced by various ecological factors beyond the online classroom. Data were collected using a survey and interviews with English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers from three universities in eastern coastal China. The results showed that the participants’ improvisation efforts featured limited preparation and creativity and a lukewarm willingness to try out new things while teaching from home. Ecological influences on the teachers’ improvisation efforts were identified as a multitude of institutional, daily contextual, sociocultural, and personal factors that interacted in complex, less predictable ways. In general, the diverse sources of influence exerted a mixed impact on individual teachers’ improvisation practices and performance. Sociocultural influence, in particular the “live-streaming star” meme, was found to be a unique source of inspiration and support. This exploratory study expands the research of improvisation in educational settings, which has largely been associated with pedagogical innovation to adapt to micro-level changes. In the emergency remote teaching scenario, innovative attempts made by individual teachers were subject to the meso-level and the macro-level ecological influences, which may overwhelm or deter practitioners. Apart from potential theoretical and pedagogical implications, the study offers insights into the nature and impact of crisis-prompted online teaching in and beyond the COVID-19 context.

The Change of Consumer Behavior within the Context of COVID-19

COVID-19 has always had a substantial impact on the global economy and the society in which humans live. As a direct result of oscillations in the economic system, consumers' living standards and ways of life have undergone considerable changes. This paper will study the effects of COVID-19 on changes in consumer behaviour through the way of lit-erature review on the topic. Customers will spend more on daily necessities throughout the pandemic. Moreover, as a result of the spread of the virus, a significant number of online supermarkets have developed shopping ways that are more convenient and efficient, and as a result, customers are more likely to use the internet to purchase their daily essentials rather than offline shopping. Future researchers who wish to investigate this discipline will have a clearer background and a more comprehensive understanding of the subject matter according to the two conclusions and limitations presented in this article.

How the Covid-19 Pandemic Magnifies Existing Urban-Rural Educational Inequality in China

Through analyzing past essays on educational inequality, our group finds that such inequality is established very early and deep in Chinese society. The most crucial cause of urban-rural inequality is the family background an extreme intergenerational inequality based on parents' educational level and family wealth. Other causes include technological differences and employment patterns. After identifying the causes, our group examines the influence of the pandemic on rural-urban inequality, and the result points out that covid elongates the gap. Furthermore, the financial capability of rural families is worsened under the covid since lots of small businesses owned by rural families shut down because the lockdown depleted their cash flows. Additionally, technology, which is very rare in rural areas compared to cities, has become vitally crucial under the context of Covid.

Working from home and employee engagement in the Covid-19 context

Working from home and employee engagement in the Covid-19 context